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DAMES
New Year Attraction At The Alhambra
Warner Bros. created the motion picture musical. It is natural, therefore, that these sauke pro- Jucers should have created "Dames," the macht spectacular and certainly the most gorgeous entertainment už its kind ver screened. It overtops even their own. 42nd Street," "Wonder Bar" and 20 Million Sweetheart."
"Dames is more than a music- al; it is the most lavishly staged spectacle imaginable. It is more than a musical spectacle; it is a miracle of camera mechanics and stage mechanism. It has a rmt plot; more beautiful girls and highly trained dancers than have ever been gathered in any one motion picture; it has six song hita; it has six of the screen's lead- ing stars. It is, undoubtedly, one of the nest pieces of entertain. ment that ever came for the Holly wonds. It will be the new year at- traction at the "Alhambra,
Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, nud Kuby Keeler head. the all-star cast, which
DOWN TO THEIR
LAST YACHT
Showing At The King's
What will the movies do next? For just when the ultimate in novelty apparently has been achieved as well as the ultimate In bigness, "grandeur beauty) sensationalism and exotic appeal, along comes another Hollywood output to excel it in one or more of these qualifications.
extra-
And now. it earnest of this rivalry, comes RKO-Radio's am bitious musical comedy vaganza, "Down To Their Last Yacht,” showing at the King's Theatre
This production is said to be the maddest, merriest, välzfest, girliest and most impressively lavish melange of exotic settings, singing, dancing and hilarity yes attempted, and is expected by the producers RKO-Radio, to chal-
includes Zasu Pitts, Guylenge the records of "Flying Dawn Bibber, and Hugh Herbert, the to Rio," the company's former ħlt, three leading comedians of the
served.
011
Busby Berkeley was responsible for spectacular dance numbers which really baffle description. Three hundred daucing girls, cavorting to catchy music, mechanical contrivances that move in many directions, with remark able innovations in camera angle, wake the, nunibers as unique and sensational as they are intriguing and beautiful
moru
Never has Joan Blondell appear- ed more beautiful .DOT fascinating than as the wise crack ing, gold-digging chorus girl who makes trouble for everyone with whom she comes in contact and who finally win an eccentric mil lionaire, played by Hugh Herbert, whose mission,, in life was to cor wet the morals of everyone hut himself
Guy Kibbens the cousin and would be beneficiary of the million aire, gives a hilarious performance and ZaSu Pitts, as the strait-laced wife of Kibbee, is a real scream
The love interest is furnished by "Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell, who can act as well as they can sing, which is superlative praise,
and
܀
More Intriguing to ball-room dancers than the "carioca,” but equally alluring the new picture's big ensemble number of "Beach Boy." The most promising catchy" song number is "Nothing Else to Do." At least, so say the preview scouts,
Nella Fitzgerald, a hard-boiled promoter who makes her living up the by boosting parvenus social ladder
Colt- rents the Stratton's yacht for a cruise to the South Seas. She insists that all passengers must be vulgarly rich, and she recruits her
crew and staff of servants from the cream of the impoverished blue- bloods. Populated with this mot- ley but allarious assemblage, the yacht gets stranded at the Island
01
Malakamokalu, a tropical paradise where the sole occupation comprises singing and dancing and romance. The island is ruled
by
а more-than slightly balmy white queen whose habit it is to acquire at least one new husband from each ship that stops, at her domain, How her fancy shifts from one man to another from among the new arrivals, furnishes much of the comedy. It all ends
most preposterous
and
amusing climax.
To provide space for the con-
The other parts are excellently played by Arthur Vinson, Phil Regan, radiole. "Singing Cop, in Sammy Fain, Arthur Aylesworth Johnny Arthur, Leila Bennett, and Berton Churchill.
The Kaleidoscope Number" instruction of the mammoth set for which the theme song "Dares" the tropical island, studio walls. is sung, and the Ruby Keeler were tom down and two large Mirage in which comes the song stages converted into one. Thou- Eyes for You" copletely awed sands of truckloads of sand and the audience.
soli were brought, and tropical Warren and Dubin, Fain
by verdure and palm trees Kahal, and Dixon and Wrubel are hundreds were set in place, while the the three leading reams of song- writers of to-day. They are.
à 200-foot steam yacht was built into the scene. sponsible for the original songs Written especially for "Dames."
In all, Dames" is one of the finest, clevarest, cleanest comedies screened in many a day; it is the greatest of all screen spectacles to date, and makes good its producers claim to be the master of all man moth musicals,
+02
il
In this exotic setting, scores of beautiful native girls, clad only in rerns, and handsome, bronzed beach boys, disport themselves, the palin trees bend and sway and the beach fires leap, recede and wave in perfect rhythm with sensuous music.
JOAN BLONDELL outdo
MAN-HANDLED
Not alone 10 the size and splendour of its settings is "Down To Their Last Yach" expected to previons screen musical comedies, but in other phases, as well It boasts a cast of forty name parts. nine vocalists, chorus of sixty trained voices and ensembles chosen from the cream
In "Smarty" At The of Hollywood's pulchritude.
Alhambra
It is the brain-child of four well known Hollywood authors and six composers, among whom are Ann Rovell, CUA- Friend,
Joan Blondell, who plays the role Sidney Mitchell, Wi Jason. Al
Burton, and Max Steiner.
Mary Boland, as a goofy queen, large of the island, heads the
of a fickle and most exasperating wife, although a very lovely and desirable, one, in the Warner Bros. picture, "Smarty" which is open cast. Polly Moran has the role of Jug to-day at the Alhambra Theatre the social purveyor to the newly- Kowloon, claims she was never so rich, and Ned Sparks to the manhandled in her life as in the captain of the yacht. Sidney Fox making of this film,
and Sidney Blackmer have the romantic leads, and others in the cast include Sterling Hollyway,
two
Joan'a exasperating mannerisms all for three distinct beatings by
different husbanda, In the Hazel Forbes, Marjorie. Gateson, first sceno Warren Williams smacka Irene Franklin. Charles Coleman, her on the jaw, and when it is Tom Kennedy, Gigi Parrish Ram- remembered that Robert Florey, sey Hill and Dot Farely. Faul the director, insisted on realism, Sloane directed. and the fact that there were long shots
In addition to the well known
and close-ups, rehearsal players in this Lou rock produc macks and retakes, Joan received on thirty-five "baby stars" some beating.
Her second husband, played by soloists debut with "Down to Edward Everett Horton, treats Their Last Yacht...
her rough, handing the blonde
actress a terrific slap across the
face, and this, too, called for re where William and Horton grabbed takes and close-ups.
me and threw me around.And
The final indignity, however, is my jaw ached for daya Personal when Warren William grabs her ly I prefer a husband not
by the hair, throws her about the so rough in demonstrating his room and tears her dress off her, affections
body. Curiously enough, in the The picture is merry, comed story, this is just what she wants, romance with a strange ma and she goes lovingly, back into tangle, based on the play by 7 his arms again
bert.
The girl in the picture
like that kind of rough
aid Joenbute
like to see any one try it. Iwas blacks and bine all
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1934..
SHOWING TO DAY DAPAT Met 12.30,5,10,7.15" &9.30. P.M.A
WITH
-* MARY BOLAND POLLY MORAN NED SPARKS SIDNEY FOX
V
IN
KINGS
THE MUSIC-DRENCHED HISTORY OF
A FAMILY OF MILLIONAIRES' WHO HAD TO GO TO WORK,"
โ
DOWN TO THEIR LAST
YACHT"
NEXT CHANGE
A
Gay Tunas! Glad Girls
Glorious Fun
“365 NIGHTS IN HOLLYWOOD"
365 NIGHTS IN HOLLYWOOD
The King's Next Attraction
rollicking farce-comedy Hollywood life
with JAMES DUNN - ALICE FAYE
OL
and loves Is promised to patrons of the King's Theatre when the Fox Film pro- duction. "385 Nights A Hollywood, arrives there on Tuesday.
Advance reports state that the new film hits a fast and furious pace at its opening and continues to roll up laughs by the hundreds as it speeds to a surprise conclu- sion
Alice Faye and James Dunn are featured as a young visitor from Peoria with movie. aspirations and a picture director who has had fame and fortune but also a lot of bad luck. Mitchell and Durant, star comedy team, appear as two adagio ice-men who pick Alice for a star and then see to it that she arrives.
Grant Mitchell is the wily head
conspires to "take" a rich young of a phoney movie school, who sucker (James Melton) for large-sized bankroll Other mem
bers of the cast are John Brad ford, Frank Conroy "and Qualen...
west
"WONDER BAR"
At The Oriental
"Wonder Barthe biggest musica! ever produced for the screen will be seen as the Oriental Theatre on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Warner Brothers have again done the seemingly impossible, Wonder Bar" is something entirely new, so vastly different from anything that has gone before it that there. is no means" of comparison. It surpasses all musical shows, not only in its uniqueness and novelty, but in the beauty and grandeur of its spectacle and its throbbing drama of life.
BOOKING AT THE THEATRE
The No. 25919 25332
RKO RADIO PICTURE
A FOX FICTURE
“LADY KILLER”
Showing At The Star
"Lady Killer," James Cagney's new Warner Bros. picture, show- ing now at the Star Theatre is the actual story of a well-known Hollywood screen player, accord- ing to gossips. That is the part In which the hero makes 2 miraculous climb
to stardom "by means of self-authored stacks of fan mail. Rosalind Shaffer, the auther, however, only smiles and says nothing when questioned, except that she didn't get the idea for the story out of the thin air.
And what a cast! Ten, brilliant stars, with a dozen featured players to say nothing of five. Bundred other performers. Jolson has his old stage role which he enacts with all of his old time fire and
"IMPS" TURNOVER enthusiasm as one of the world's
INCREASING greatest entertainers. two catchy new songs in English He sings
(Special Air Mail Service) and a Russian gipsy melody, as
"London, Déc. 12. well as acting as master of cere-- Recent buying of Imperial Tobac~ monies at the guy Parisian night co shares has not been due entirely club where the drams is set." to the overflow from the gift-edged
Kibbee. Hugh Herbert, Louise trading since the abandonment of The cast includes Kay Francis.market. The company is known to Dick Powell, Hal LeRoy Guy have enjoyed exceptionally good Fazenda, Ruth Donnelly, Fifi d'gift coupon schemes. It is under- 'Orsay, Barrat, Merna Kennedy and Henry, is now working treble shifts
Henry O'Neill Robertstood that the Nottingham factory
John Keiker.
Hollywood preview audiences are said to have greeted this new picture of movieland, foibles with a tumultuous reception. Jimmy Starr, famous
const columist, supplied the original story, which has been adapted for the screen by. Henry Johnson and William Conselman. Bol. M. Wurtzel is listed as producer.
Two song numbers are included, both authored by Richard Whiting and Sidney Clare. The song titles
SHOWING
TO-DAY
Trade reporta suggest that sales of Players' standard brand have are Yes to You" and "My Future more than doubled, and now repre.... Star." Both have been staged sent 80 pc. of sales through auto- lavishly, it is stated..., Sammy Lee matic machines, and over 60 p.cTM of handled the dances and George all sales of brands marketed at the Marshall directed the script same price. Woodbines hold a One advance reviewer has said: similarly dominating position "You'll need a grjer to pull your among the cheaper brands. Bow self together after you've split far these sales are reflected in 'pro- your sides at the merry, antics of fits, however, will depend not only 365 Nights in Hollywood".". All on the advertising"" incurred, but reports indicate this is a picture also on the terms of the coupon you won't want to miss!
"peace" agreement.
GULLN'S
FLAME BU
ERNST LUBITSCH
THE
Production
With the MAPS ter
1
....
MERRY WIDOW
AT 2.30, 5.10,
7.20 & 9.80
P.M.
TO-DAY AT THE CINEMA
KING'S
HONG KONG
"Down To Their Last Yacht" QUEEN'S:—
"The Merry Widow**
ORIENTAL:
"Operator 13
MAJESTIC
THEATRE Naan Host Kowloon. Tel 57122 FINAL SHOWINGS TO-DAY (At 2.30, 6:20,-7.20 & 9.20 P.M) WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?
KOWLOON
MAJESTIC:
"Myrt and Marge"
ALHAMBRA-
"Smarty"
Sunday
MYRT MARGE
BING'S
"Down To Their Last Yacht" QUEEN'S:-
"The Merry Widow"
ORIENTAL:-
"Wonder Bar".
ALHAMBRA:---
"Smarty"
MAJESTIC:-
"Viva VilaTM
4 SHOWS
7 ther 3.30-13
D
Come and see that radio's favorites are just as clever on the screen as on the air, in the feature comedy With Ted Healy, Eddie For, Stre Thomas Jackson, J. Farrell MacDonald, Ray Hedge, Grace Hayes, Triale Friganza. Directed by Al Boasberg. Produced by Fay Productions, Ltd. Presented by Carl Laemmle.
A UNIVERSAL PICTURE.
· TAILL, ANY TRAM OR HAPPY VALLEY BUK
ORIENTALE
THEATRE
PLEMING ROAD WANCHAN
TEL. 20132
LAST 4 TIMES ] - TOMORROW
TO-DAY
BIG DOUBLE SHOW
DAVIES OPERATOR COOPER
13
John Facket
Almasder THE HOLD The Fens Wik
STAN
DIVER LAUREL HARDY
RIOT
OF FUN!
IN THEIR LATEST COMEDY
GOING BYE BYE":
THE MERRY
WIDOW
Opening To-day At
The Queen's
Glamorous romance, beautiful women, whimsical humour and the haunting strains of Franz Lehar's famous muse are interwoven into an entertainment of indescribable. charm in Ernst. Lubitch's produc- tion of "The Merry Widow!! which opens to-day at the Queen's Theatre.
The original Lehar operetta wis followed to the story, the song hits kept intact. Jeanette MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier co-starred are seen in their gay revels in Paris, the romantic episode of the dreamy Merry Widow Waltz and the gay night at Maxim's. All these are staged on a spectacular basis Irving F. Thalberg's master production hand is seen to fallest advantage...
⠀⠀ Chevaller plays the role of Dant- lo, young, handsome and debonair prince and sings-iting songs. Miss MacDonald is beautiful In the gorgeois Adrian-crested gowns and sings the Lehar musis gorra- ously Lubitch's humorous touches are apparent amid the joyousness of the gay Viennese music-and comedy altuatione
The supporting cast include EA- ward Everett Horton as the comic. ambassador, while George Barbier and Una Merkel supply reiz humour as king
Gom
Max
others
MONDAY TUESDAY
THE WONDER SHOW
YOFA
THE CENTURY! THOUSANDS. IN THE CAST
... HERE COMES THE PARADE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST STARS!... They're All In
WONDER BAR
KAY FRANCIS DICK POWELL DOLORES OF RIO AL JOLSON RICARDO CORTEZ HAL LEROY CUY KIBCEE
HUGH HERBERT
FIFI D'ORSAY
Not Being "Bitten”
The guest at the seaside board- ing house was very annoyed when he checked the bill the landlady gave him,
"The addition is wrong!" - zaid ne."You have made it £1 teas mach!”
"Oh, I am sorry" gushed ske, "I am a bad adder!”-
"Bad adder!" spluttered the guëst. "That's no reason why you should "sting mel
ALHAMBRA
IR STRE
TO-DAY- TO MONDAY THE MIREIEST. MATRIMONIAL
MIXUP EVER SEEN ON ANY SCREENT
Smart
JOAN BLONDELL
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